“Smith is quite right,” said Miller; “there's no counting on you, Blake. Now, be a good fellow, and promise to be regular this year.”
“I'll promise to do my work in a race, which is more than some of your best-trained men will do,” said Blake, rather piqued.
“Well you know what I think on the subject,” said Miller; “but who have we got for the other three places?”
“There's Drysdale would do,” said Diogenes; “I hear he was a capital oar at Eton; and so, though I don't know him, I managed to get him once down last term. He would do famously for No.2, or No.3 if he would pull.”
“Do you think he will, Blake? You know him, I suppose,” said Miller.
“Yes, I know him well enough,” said Blake; and, shrugging his shoulders, added, “I don't think you'll get him to train much.”
“Well, we must try,” said Miller. “Now, who else is there?”
Smith went through four or five names, at each of which Miller shook his head.
“Any promising freshmen?” said he at last.
“None better than Brown here,” said Smith. “I think he'll do well if he will only work, and stand being coached.”